Orb Networks has joined a growing list of video broadcast service providers supporting Intel-based mobile Internet devices (MIDs). The Orb “MyCast” software and service lets users stream PC-based multimedia over local or wide-area networks to a variety of mobile devices, including Atom-based MIDs, Orb says.

(Click for larger view of an Orb playlist on a mobile phone)

The Orb software installs on a Windows desktop PC, where it transcodes music, photos, and videos on the fly into mobile-friendly formats. With the addition of a tuner card, live TV can also be broadcast. Mobile users access the content by connecting to WiFi or another data service, and then to Orb's MyCast online service, which brokers the wide-area connection.

The Orb software and MyCast service support a wide variety of mobile phones and other mobile devices, Orb says. Devices access the streams via their own media players and web browsers, so no downloads are required to prime the devices for playback, according to the company.

Daily Show feed on a mobile phone

Last year, the company added support for the Linux-based Nokia N8xx Internet Tablets. The Orb support for MIDs is said to target Moblin-based MIDs using the Intel Atom Z5 series (“Silverthorne”) processors.

Other broadcast software and service companies that have recently announced support for MIDs and Moblin include Move Media and RealNetworks. Additionally, software providers GeoSentric and FST have touted support for the platform.

Availability

The free Orb software that supports MIDs appears to be available now.

 
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